The Court House is set up somewhat the same as any other courthouse…except this one looks like a castle from the outside. On the inside is a whole different story; it’s modernized with fluorescent lighting and offices on both sides of the hallway.
Me and Will glanced through the windows for the transportation department-it turns out that a magic license was like a drivers license back in the U.S. You get bonus rewards for having “no accidents” or points added on for “troublemaking”. That’s why I still had my permit back in the states; after all, I had too much to keep track of in Lavaria.
“It should be one of the fist doors…I guess they moved it since the last time I was here.” Will muttered putting his hands in the pockets of his Trip pants; he was that morbid-gothic looking kind of guy. I guess it helped hide his identity or something like that.
“And how long ago was that? You weren’t with me.” I looked up at him curiously. I was dying to know what his true age was.
He shrugged, “I don’t know. Memories fade as we Methuselah move on. I don’t need my license renewed for another 200 years.”
I whistled, “Wow.”
He stopped in front of a door that looked like it had seen better days; it was faded wood (probably oak) with long scratches across it that led to the bottom where it was splintering from running against the floor. A heavy sign hung above it that read, “Trans. Cabinet.” It had to be the place…right?
Will answered the question by opening the door effortlessly and stepping back to let me pass. There to greet us was an old woman with big-rimmed glasses that was balancing on the edge of her nose. Her beady gray eyes squinted at us through her glasses as she checked us up and down, epically Will-who could probably be a runway model on his first try.
“William Edward Roian…it’s been quite a long time since I’ve seen you here. Is this your supplier? I thought that they set the age to a vampire’s drinking partner to 21?” She asked Will sweetly, completely ignoring me.
I coughed, “I’m here to get my license renewed if you don’t mind.” I wasn’t in the mood to argue with her anymore than I had to.
She turned quicker than I would have thought possible for any old woman to do to face me and bowed her head, “I’m sorry Miss. You must forgive my rudeness. I don’t get many Methuselah these days you see.” She winked, “Not many as cute as this one. You’re a lucky one Lass!”
I tried to smile but I think I came out wrong because she turned to grab a small rectangular piece of paper from behind her, “Here you go dear. Just sign on the line at the bottom when you’ve circled everything needed at the top.”
I nodded and leaned up against the counter and took a quill from its resting place. The paper was like the one I filled out 5 years ago. Just the same old “Your age, D.O.B, guardian’s name and address.” I worked through it quickly and returned it to the lady.
She took it gingerly and smiled, “Thank you dear.”
I couldn’t take it any longer so I asked, “What exactly are you if you don’t mind me asking…?”
She seemed puzzled by my question but replied anyway, “Why I’m a fairy Godmother dear. I grant people wishes for their everyday needs.”
I nodded and took the new license that she handed me, “Thanks. Still getting used to all the kinds of people here.”
Will walked out of the door after I had taken the new license to read a bulletin on the opposite wall.
The Godmother rested her chin on her hand and sighed, “Well you won’t find much more interesting than that one out there. I think you two should sit down and have a good heart-to-heart chat.”
I nodded turning to put my hand on the doorknob, “Thanks. I’ll be sure to ask him once we get back.” I waved goodbye and walked out.
“I’m not that interesting…” Will grumbled softly, “I’m just a piece of dead meat walking around, nothing more.”
I hated it when he lived up to his appearance, “Don’t say that. You’re a proud Methuselah remember?” Methuselah was what vampires call themselves formally.
What he did next surprised me, he laughed. Vampires never laugh…at least that’s what they tell me. I don’t see why they don’t. It’s really pretty. It also meant that something bad was coming, really bad.
We headed out the double doors and out into the street once more. It wasn’t as packed now that the sun had begun to set over the horizon. Then again there was a law that said that you had to say indoors throughout the night; Gran never explained why it was still in effect, she didn’t say anything more about it the one time I asked.
Will finally turned to look at me after we got through most of the town and said sullenly, “You keep looking at the sunset like it’s going to eat you. If you don’t stop people are going to become worried you know?”
Here’s my chance. I thought getting mentally excited, “I’ve always wondered why the sunset scares everyone Will. Gran never said anything about it; is it taboo or something?”
I heard his breath stop suddenly. His golden eyes became extremely serious when they bore into mine, “There is no business for you inquiring that of me.”
“But I want to know Will!” I halfway screamed, “It’s my right to know! I’m part of this world too like it or not! I’m not going to go around like an idiot all of the damn time!”
This finally got him and he sighed, “There are beings like me…those who would want to cause you both bodily and mentally harm. They only prey at night for those unsuspecting souls who wander astray from the masses; for them, this makes the perfect opportunity for a meal.”
I nodded, “So is that where a lot of the myths come from about you Will? Is that why people fear you so much?”
He nodded back, “Unfortunately yes.” After saying it he became rigid.
A velvet voice from behind us called, “Not unfortunate, I believe, but intriguing! These little beings are such cunning little creatures don’t you think William, beloved traitor of the Vicari Order?”
I turned to see a man about Will’s age (in looks) standing less than 50 feet from us. He wore his hair shaggy and dyed deep red with matching eyes. The suit he was wearing went well with the whole emo vibe I was getting from him; it was black through and through. When I looked back at Will he was gone. Panic hit me before I realized, turning again, that he had grabbed the man by his neck and was holding him up by arm’s length.
“What are you doing in a town like this Vincent?” Will growled his eyes glowing in the twilight and fangs protruding from behind his lips.
Vincent grinned mockingly, “Why looking for you of all people! The boss is very anxious for you to return to her.”
He threw Vincent into a nearby lamppost with incredible force, enough to cause it to shake violently. I’ve never seen Will this mad before and I was terrified that someone would see us. Vincent came back on Will and punched him hard in the face.
“Come on guys…this is stupid!” I tried to make my voice boom but it came out in a regular tone.
They both cast their gaze in my direction. Immediately Will’s softened and he loosened his grip on Vincent’s jacket collar. He had a bloody lip.
“Well, well, well. This little chickadee belong to you William? She’s mighty fine looking if I don’t say myself.” Vincent winked at me and straightened his suit; “I’ll leave if it will make you two happy; I’m sure that you both have big plans (if she is yours). However, the Mistress will definitely hear about this when I get home.”
With that he left, fading into the incoming fog that had begun spreading throughout the town. Will looked down at the pavement and punched the lamppost leaving an imprint of his hand.
“Um…I guess you don’t want to talk about it.” I tried to cheer him up.
He shook his head, “I didn’t want you involved, but now you are.” Will sighed and looked back at me softly, “You aren’t mine.”
I was taken aback. What did it mean if I were “his”? I hated all these Vampire Terms that I would never be able to understand. But the way he put “you aren’t mine” made my heart almost stop beating—it hurt.
Will turned and started back the way we came, “Let’s go home. I’m tired.” He took off into the mist.
I nodded and set off after him into the misty night to go home.
…